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home > local hauntings > Woodend
Hamilton Region Conservation Authority 838 Mineral Springs Road, Ancaster, Ontario By Stephanie Lechniak-Cumerlato
Woodend, headquarters of the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority is a historic mansion located on Mineral Springs Road in Ancaster. Although the house hasn't been lived in as a home for numerous years now, it is said to be very much alive with an unhappy ghost of the past. Woodend is situated at the western end of Lake Ontario and the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority is the region’s largest environmental management agency. For over 30 years it has promoted environmental efforts to help ensure a safe and sustainable community. The HCA owns, leases or manages about 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) of environmentally significant land. Much of it is home to rare plants, birds and mammals whose existence depends on an environment that is not pressured by human activity. The house itself dates back to 1862 when it was built by John Heslop (b.1812 - d.1891), the first reeve of ancaster township, the first warden of Wentworth County, and the clerk-treasurer of Ancaster. The craftsmanship of Woodend is said to reflect the style and grandeur of Mr. Heslop. It
has also been used in several movies, including Anne of Green Gables
- The Sequel (personally, my favourite movie!). The hayride scene with
all of the school girls ended here and is also where Jen and Myra Pringle
let the sheep escape. It was at his home of Woodend where John Heslop was murdered. To this day, his killer hasn't been brought to justice so Mr. Heslop's spirit is said to still roam around the house.
The
Murder The date was January 27, 1891, shortly after midnight. John Heslop and his family lay sound asleep in bed while persons unknown broke into his home. On this particular bitterly cold night, Mr. Heslop and his wife, Elizabeth Aikman (b.1819 - d.1892) had retired early, but were awakened by a pounding at their back door. Two masked men beat the door open with a stick of cord wood, and groped their way to the staircase. Mr. Heslop sprang from his bed and stationed himself at the top of the stairs, threatening the invaders with an upraised chair. The prowlers demanded money but he refused. One of the men then shot Mr. Heslop and he tumbled down the entire staircase to the landing, where he died almost instantly. The burglars shortly afterwards fled and escaped in a horse and rig toward Hamilton according to the marks found in the snow the next morning. At the inquest the next evening, an open verdict was returned although Indians from the Grand River Reserve were strongly suspected. Later in the summer, four Indians, Samuel Goosey, John Bartram, John Lottridge, and George Douglas were arrested. They all admitted being present at the shooting, but they all accused one another of firing the fatal shot. Their trial began on March 9, 1892. There was almost a riot as the court room filled, and hundreds of hopeful spectators could not get in. The sensation of the trial was when Goosey turned against his companions and told how he had stood guard at the door while the others entered the house. He accused Bartram of firing the fatal shot. Defense witnesses swore to alibis for the accused. Douglas was supposed to have been seen in Niagara Falls, and Bartram slept at home all night and drove a load of cordwood to Hamilton the next day, they said. Other witnesses swore that all four of the accused were at a woman named Katie White's funeral. Miss Sarah Ann Heslop, aged 45 at the time described the scene of the murder: Her father in his night clothes with a lighted candle in his hand went to meet the intruders, then lifted a chair to defend himself, as her mother held the candle. She heard the shot and heard her father fall. One of the burglars re-lit the candle and demanded money. Knowing that Mr. Heslop was Township Treasurer, they demanded that Mrs. Heslop open the safe but she refused. They then ransacked the house but had to leave without any money. Miss Heslop then dressed and called the neighbours. When all the conflicting evidence had been heard, the jury retired, and after three hours returned to announce that the prisoners had not been found guilty of murder. This must have been a shock to the judge, because he had been so convinced that there would be a guilty verdict that he had started to write in his note book the sentence that he expected he would have to pronounce.The prisoners were released and John Heslop's murder became fallible.
The
Legendary Haunting Many thought that two brothers who lived near Lynden, and were leaders of a wild, notorious gang of roughnecks, were the ones responsible, but only the murderers themselves were certain who did the foul deed. Because no one was ever convicted of the crime, John Heslop's spirit is said to still roam Woodend. People have reported movements in the attic, a dragging noise and footsteps moving through the house. Legend has it that his blood stain can still be seen at the stair landing underneath the rug, and will continue to be there because his murder is still unavenged.
As sent to us by one of our readers:
Many
thanks to R. Crafword for sending along this haunting experience to
us! We much appreciate it! :)
Resources
Hamilton Region Conservation Authority Website, http://www.hamrca.on.ca/ The Conservation Foundation of the Hamilton Region, http://www.foundation.hamrca.on.ca/about.htm "The John Heslop Murder", by T. Roy Woodhouse Hamilton Public Library's Special Collections Department, " The Hamilton Region Conservation Authority" http://www.hpl.ca/Collections/landmark/Hrca.shtml Avonlea Traditions: Southern Ontario Filming Sites, http://www.avonlea-traditions.com/film_sites.htm
Location
Map
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UPDATED May 2005
